[caption id="attachment_13675" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Temecula-Dental-Assisting-pinning-ceremony.jpg"><img src="http://www.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Temecula-Dental-Assisting-pinning-ceremony-300x250.jpg" alt="Temecula Dental Assisting pinning ceremony" width="300" height="250" class="wp-image-13675 size-thumbnail" /></a> Amber Brubaker won the Director’s Award for academic achievement and was the Graduate Speaker at SJVC Temecula's first Dental Assisting Pinning Ceremony.[/caption]

A Pinning Ceremony was held on March 19th for the very first graduating class of Temecula's new <a href="/programs/medical-and-dental/dental-assistant" title="Click to learn more about SJVC's Dental Assistant program.">Dental Assisting program</a>. Graduates and their families attended the hour-and-a-half long event that marked successful completion of the program. The awarded Dental Assisting students earned certificates, as well and their Dental Assisting pins.

"The pin establishes their status as Dental Assistants, and they can wear it on their gown at graduation and lapel at other events," says Cindy Ovard, Dental Assisting Program Director, <a href="/campuses/southern-california/temecula" title="Click here to learn more about SJVC's Temecula Campus.">SJVC Temecula</a>.

Other certificates and awards were presented at the ceremony. Graduates were given infection control certificates, law and ethics certificates, and X-ray licenses. Amber Brubaker won the Director’s Award for academic achievement and was the Graduate Speaker at the event. Amber earned a 4.0 GPA and had perfect attendance during her Dental Assisting program. She was also offered – and accepted – a position as a Dental Assistant at her extern site.

The event included a video provided by Dental Assisting graduate Megan Gonzalez, which highlighted special moments from class start to class completion. Attendees also enjoyed a potluck of an array of foods, as well as a large sheet cake provided by the college.

"We celebrated successful support and completion of the Dental Assisting program and launching our graduates into their new career path," says Cindy.

Temecula's Dental Assisting graduates are optimistic about their career opportunities. "The Dental Assisting program offered me real-life experience," says recent grad Rebecca Goodwin. "I was able to be hired immediately upon graduation. Everything we did in school, we do in the real world. SJVC made this possible for me."

Temecula's Dental Assisting grads – most of whom have already been placed in dental offices – will take their CA State Board exam in April to become Registered Dental Assistants (RDAs).